3 takeaways from the Knicks' season opener vs. Cavaliers
Knicks guard Tyler Kolek reacts after scoring a three-point basket against the Cleveland Cavaliers in the first half of an NBA game at Madison Square Garden on Wednesday. Credit: Kathleen Malone-Van Dyke
Here are three takeaways from the Knicks' 119-111 season-opening win over the Cavaliers at Madison Square Garden.
He really means it
Mike Brown talked up his belief in the depth of the team and wasted no time proving he meant it. Less than five minutes into the game Trey Jemison, on a two-way contract, was in the game. Tyler Kolek was leading the team for key stretches in the fourth quarter.
“I truly believe this team is a deep team,” Brown said. “Give Leon Rose and his group a lot of credit. It’s my job to keep trying to find combinations out on the floor that work. … I like to play a lot of guys. I don’t know if I’ll play 11 guys every night but we like to play as many as we can. We want everybody to be ready in case their number’s called anytime.”
A new way for OG
OG Anunoby was one of the players who hoped to benefit from the arrival of Brown and the new system, and on day one he did — scoring a team-high 24 points and matching his career-high with 14 rebounds, all while shaking off an ankle tweak that had him a gametime decision.
Welcome to New York
The Knicks started off with a one-sided loss last season but this win in Brown’s debut as coach not only got them off on the right foot but got them a win over the Cavs, who beat the Knicks in all four meetings last season on their way to 64 wins. And Boston is next on Friday night.
Steve Popper covers the Knicks for Newsday. He has spent nearly three decades covering the Knicks and the NBA, along with just about every sports team in the New York metropolitan area.
